AN annual festival, money for a new bandstand and children's holiday activities are set to be the casualties of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's cost-cutting.

Faced with a deficit of £828,000 the council asked the public to make decisions about where to make cuts in the next budget – its "most challenging yet".

A survey asked people to rate the importance of different services, from increased car park charges to spending in council parks.

At a meeting at the town hall last Thursday head of finance and governance Lee Colyer revealed the results of the survey and described the 700-plus responses as "tremendous".

People pleasers such as the town's Christmas lights will now not be affected but events such as The Mela festival, which celebrates cultural diversity, face an unknown future.

Mr Colyer said: "There was recognition from the public that we face a difficult time. They have made a real difference to this year's budget."

The £828,000 shortfall for 2010/11 was reduced to £454,000 through savings proposed by heads of services including less grass cutting in the council's parks and recs which the Courier reported on last month.

At the beginning of the year the council's chief executive William Benson confirmed staff restructuring, including senior job cuts, could eventually make long-term savings of £1million.

Members also backed a council tax rise of 2.5 per cent, equivalent to an increase of £3.53 a year for a Band D property. Last year's hike was 4.95 per cent.

The Tunbridge Wells and District Citizens Advice Bureau will continue to receive the same level of funding from the borough council thanks to a three-year funding agreement it is tied to.

However, other organisations which depend on grants, such as Trinity Theatre, will now have to go before a funding panel which will decide how much money they receive.

On other ideas put to the public in the survey, Mr Colyer said there would be no immediate increase to parking charges but confirmed these could be raised to generate income and said the survey showed people were not totally opposed to higher charges.

The bulky refuse collection which serves outlying areas in the borough will continue and, according to the council, is "self funding" because the public is charged for it.

But a number of services, facilities and events are under review, including the operation and opening hours of Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery.

Mr Colyer said: "The council will be reviewing the events it puts on and whether a better method would be for the community to request funding towards events which also support the council's priorities."

Mr Colyer said there was no budget for a council-funded bandstand and cash for the cycle network is on hold with the council stating any funding would be directed to other transport improvements.

The final budget and council tax will be set by full council at its meeting on February 24.